Ibrahim Traore, Burkina Faso’s self-declared leader, is escorted by soldiers as he arrives, standing in an armoured vehicle, in Ouagadougou. Photo: CNS/Vincent Bado, Reuters
At least 15 Catholics were killed in an attack during Mass on Sunday in the Burkina Faso village of Essakane in the country’s Oudalan province in the northeastern region, a jurisdiction of the Diocese of Dori.
In a statement, Fr Jean-Pierre Sawadogo, the vicar general of the Dori Diocese, called the February 25 incident a “terrorist attack” and appealed for prayers for the souls of those who he said “died in faith”. He also called for spiritual solidarity with those in need of healing and consolation.
“In this painful circumstance, we invite you to pray for those who died in faith, for the healing of the wounded, and for the consolation of grieving hearts,” Fr Sawadogo said.
“May our efforts of penance and prayer during this blessed season of Lent obtain peace and security for our country, Burkina Faso,” he added.
According to Fr Sawadogo, 12 worshippers were killed at the scene of the attack while three succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment. Two others were being treated at a hospital.
The village of Essakane is in the ‘three borders’ zone near the borders of Burkina Faso with Mali and Niger in the vast Sahel region. The Sahel region spans some 3,355 miles and stretches from the Atlantic Ocean eastward through northern Senegal, southern Mauritania, the great bend of the Niger River in Mali, Burkina Faso, southern Niger, northeastern Nigeria, south-central Chad, and into Sudan.
The attack is the latest in a series of atrocities blamed on Islamist terrorist groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State reportedly active in the Sahel region, which have taken over long strips of land and contributed to the displacement of millions of people in the region.
Last year, Bishop Laurent Birfuoré Dabiré of the Dori Diocese expressed his solidarity with the people of God in Burkina Faso who no longer attend Mass for fear of jihadist attacks. In an interview with the pontifical charity foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International, Bishop Birfuoré made reference to the large number of Catholics skipping public worship, saying: “We understand them and do not ask them to go beyond their courage”.
He confirmed reports that 50% of the west African country is occupied by terrorists and many Catholic parishes have been left abandoned as their members stay away for fear of attacks.